Veronica Plant Named &#39;NOVAVERMAU&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new plant resulted as a mutation of an open-pollinated seed of the ‘Tickled Pink’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,182) that was induced by exposure to gamma irradiation followed by selection. Attractive mauve blossoms are formed in abundance with a propensity to rebloom following trimming in the absence of a vernalization requirement for flowering. A dense compact mounding growth habit is displayed. The stems that bear flowers are substantially upright. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Veronical spicata/Veronica Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Novavermau

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new plant of the present invention was derived from the ‘TickledPink’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,182) at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.Open-pollinated seeds of the cultivar were collected from ‘Tickled Pink’plants. The seeds were thereafter subjected on Sep. 22, 2009 to gammairradiation in order to seek to induce various mutations. Following thegamma irradiation, the irradiated seeds were sown under greenhouseconditions during January 2010, and the resulting plants were foundduring the following summer and fall to differ from each other in manyways. A single plant of the present invention was selected and waspreserved in view of its unique combination of attractive phenotypiccharacteristics. Had this plant not been created, identified andpreserved it would have been lost to mankind.

It was found that the new Veronica plant of the present inventiondisplays the following combination of characteristics:

-   (a) exhibits a dense compact mounding growth habit,-   (b) forms upright stems in abundance,-   (c) is lacking a vernalization requirement for flowering,-   (d) forms in abundance attractive mauve blossoms with a propensity    to rebloom following trimming, and-   (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the    landscape.

During observations to date, the plant has been found to be hardy inU.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 6. No further definitive hardinessinformation has been obtained.

The new cultivar well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage as a perennial garden plant to providecolorful ornamentation. For instance, it can be grown in parks, gardensand residential settings.

Plants of the new cultivar can be readily distinguished from otherVeronica spicata cultivars including its parent. More specifically, the‘Tickled Pink’ cultivar forms bright pink blossoms instead of blossomshaving the mauve coloration of the new cultivar.

The new cultivar also can be readily distinguished from the ‘Rotfuchs’cultivar (non-patented in the United States). Unlike the new cultivar,the ‘Rotfuchs’ cultivar forms dark pink blossoms, is less compact, andhas been found to require vernalization during observations at WestGrove, Pa., U.S.A.

The rooting of cuttings has been used to asexually propagate the newcultivar at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. It has been found that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reliablytransmitted from one generation to another. Accordingly, the newcultivar can be asexually reproduced in a true-to-type manner.

The new cultivar of the present invention has been named ‘Novavermau’,and will be maketed under the MAUVE MOODY BLUES Trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the new cultivar in color asnearly true as it is reasonably possible make the same in colorillustrations of this nature. The plants were approximately two years ofage and were being grown during May 2013 on their own roots at WestGrove, Pa., U.S.A.

FIG. 1 illustrates a specimen of a typical mature flowering plant of thenew cultivar while growing outdoors in the ground in full sun. Thetypical upright dense compact mounding growth habit is shown.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of the mauve flowers on upright stemsof the new cultivar in various stages of development. The plant wasbeing grown outdoors in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description while observing two-year-oldplants of the new cultivar that were produced by the rooting ofcuttings. Such plants were being grown in one-gallon containers undergreenhouse conditions at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. Also, size comparisonswere made when grown outdoors in the ground. The chart used in theidentification of color is the R.H.S. Colour Chart (1995 Edition orequivalent) of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. Commoncolor terms are to be accorded their customary dictionary significance.

-   Botanical classification: Veronica spicata, cv. Novavermau.    -   -   Parent.—Seedling of Veronica spicata, cv. ‘Tickled Pink’.        -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Dense compact and mounding.        -   Height.—Approximately 34 cm on average when grown in a            container, and approximately 46 cm on average when grown in            the ground.        -   Spread.—Approximately 44 cm on average when grown in a            container, and approximately 46 cm on average when grown in            the ground.        -   Branching.—commonly approximately 2 to 7 lateral stems arise            from a mat of congested basal stems.        -   Branching angle.—Commonly approximately 35 degrees.        -   Stem length.—Commonly approximately 23.5 cm on average.        -   Stem diameter.—Commonly approximately 2 mm on average.        -   Stem shape.—Substantially round in cross-section.        -   Stem color.—Near Green Group 139C.        -   Stem texture.—Finely pubescent surface.        -   Internode.—Length Commonly approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Roots.—Fibrous network.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Shape.—Obovate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acuminate.        -   Length.—Commonly approximately 5.2 cm on average for lower            leaves, and approximately 3.5 cm on average for upper            leaves.        -   Width.—Commonly approximately 1.7 cm on average for lower            leaves and approximately 7 mm on average for upper leaves.        -   Texture.—On the upper surface sparsely pubescent, and on the            under surface sparsely pubescent with moderate pubescence on            the veins.        -   Color.—On the upper surface near Green Group 139A, and on            the lower surface near Green Group 137C.        -   Margins.—Entire and somewhat crenate.        -   Venation.—Pinnate and near Green Group 138B in coloration.        -   Fragrance.—None noticeable.        -   Petiole.—Commonly approximately 1.5 cm in length on average,            approximately 1.5 mm in diameter on average, finely            pubescent, and near Green Group 143B in coloration.        -   Stipules.—Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Reblooming.—With a good propensity to rebloom following            trimming.        -   Type.—Single arranged in upright racemes.        -   Buds.—Elongated ovoid, approximately 4 mm in length just            before opening, approximately 1.5 mm in diameter, and near            Purple Group 77B in coloration.        -   Quantity.—Free-flowering, commonly 1 or up to 6 arranged in            a whorl, and commonly approximately 120 to 150 flowers per            inflorescence.        -   Racemes.—Approximately 12 cm in length on average, and            approximately 2 cm in width on average.        -   Corolla diameter.—Approximately 7 mm.        -   Corolla length.—Approximately 7 mm.        -   Aspect.—Commonly approximately 30 degrees prior to opening            and substantially horizontal when fully open.        -   Corolla configuration.—Funnel-formed with petals fused into            a tube towards the base.        -   Petal number.—Four.        -   Petal tube.—Approximately 2 mm in length on average,            approximately 2 mm in width on average, glabrous in texture,            and near Purple Group 78C in coloration.        -   Petal lobes.—Approximately 4 mm in length on average,            approximately 3 mm in width on average, glabrous in texture,            broadly linear in configuration, entire margins, rounded            apex, and near Purple Group 77B on the upper surface and            near Purple Group 77A on the under surface.        -   Sepal arrangement.—Four in number, fused at base.        -   Sepal shape.—Triangular-ovate.        -   Sepal length.—Approximately 2 mm on average.        -   Sepal diameter.—Approximately 1 mm on average.        -   Sepal apex.—Acute.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal texture.—Smooth.        -   Sepal color.—Near Green Group 137A on the upper and under            surfaces.        -   Stamen number.—Two.        -   Anther shape.—Ovoid.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 2 mm on average.        -   Anther width.—Approximately 1 mm on average.        -   Anther color.—Near Red-Purple Group 70A.        -   Filaments.—Commonly approximately 5 mm in length on average,            commonly less than 1 mm in diameter on average, and near            Purple Group 77A in coloration.        -   Pollen.—Present in a moderate quantity, and near            Greyed-Yellow Group 162D in coloration.        -   Pistil number.—One, with stigma and style not being readily            distinguishable.        -   Shape.—Filiform.        -   Color.—Near Purple Group 77A.        -   Length.—Approximately 5 mm.        -   Width.—Commonly less than 1 mm.        -   Ovary shape.—Rounded.        -   Ovary length.—Approximately 1.5 mm on average.        -   Ovary width.—Approximately 1 mm on average.        -   Ovary color.—Near Green Group 142B.        -   Seed number.—Commonly 4 or less.        -   Seed shape.—Ovoid and commonly with flattening.        -   Seed length.—Approximately 1 mm on average.        -   Seed diameter.—Approximately 0.5 mm on average.        -   Seed width.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Seed color.—Greyed-Brown Group 199B.        -   Fragrance.—None observed.        -   Flower longevity.—Approximately 8 days on the plant.        -   Peduncle length.—Approximately 2 cm on average.        -   Peduncle diameter.—Substantially round and approximately 1            mm on average.        -   Peduncle texture.—Finely pubsecent.        -   Peduncle color.—Near Green Group 139C.        -   Pedicel length.—Very short, and commonly approximately 0.05            mm.        -   Pedicel width.—Commonly less than 1 mm.        -   Pedicel texture.—Smooth.        -   Pedicel color.—Near Green Group 143B.-   Disease resistance: No particular resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Veronica plants has been encountered during observations    to date. Plants of the ‘Novavermau’ cultivar have not been observed    under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it    is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with    changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and    other environmental conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Veronica plant having the followingcombination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a dense compact moundinggrowth habit, (b) forms upright stems in abundance, (c) is lacking avernalization requirement for flowering, (d) forms in abundanceattractive mauve blossoms with a propensity to well rebloom followingtrimming, and (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentationin the landscape; substantially as illustrated and described.